How can I approach learning to read music as an aspiring composer?

18 hours ago, YhomTorke7 said:

 But how do you learn or study sheet music reading to become a composer?

 

Many composers today do not spend any significant amount of time looking at sheet music at all, actually. 

This forum is a bit of an exception, but the general rule is most composers these days are using DAWs with a MIDI keyboard and piano roll view instead of notation view.

In fact, for the sake of composing, DAWs offer a number of advantages over traditional notation. You can see the entire score and what is happening in it in regards to vertical harmonic relationships without having to scroll or move your eyes much, you can make very precise timing adjustments, and you can play in the music in real time and edit the MIDI data afterward; it also gives you much more control over the "Mock up" performance of what the music would sound like if recorded live.

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Do composers hear the score in their heads?

Depends on the individual composer. Most I would think have an idea in their mind, though.

18 hours ago, YhomTorke7 said:

How can they learn to read sheet music without playing an instrument?

I don't know any composer who does not play an instrument or sing. It would be very difficult to be taken seriously if one didn't.

Most are at least competent on piano, which has long been the composer's instrument of choice.

18 hours ago, YhomTorke7 said:

I'm confused about the difference between sight reading as a performer and reading music as a composer.

At the professional or academic level, composers often conduct their own scores and when doing so, they have the full score in front of them instead of isolated parts. So from the composer's perspective, it is mainly about keeping the ensemble in time, controlling dynamics and expression, and a reference to make sure the composer knows the orchestra or ensemble is in the music, and where it is headed so that he can cue in sections

18 hours ago, YhomTorke7 said:

As far as I understand, an instrumentalist's music reading is different because they learn to read sheet music while playing their instrument (sight reading), so they have a sound reference.

You don't need to have a reference, just good relative pitch.  Regardless of how high or how low a piece of music is, the intervals in the music will still be the same.

18 hours ago, YhomTorke7 said:

I play electric guitar and a bit of piano, but I'm not an instrumentalist.

How can you say you're not an instrumentalist if you play guitar and piano?  They're instruments aren't they?  LoL

18 hours ago, YhomTorke7 said:

Do composers hear the score in their heads?

Eventually yes - but every aspiring composer must start somewhere, with some instrument, or with whistling, humming or singing in order to develop their relative pitch.  I keep a musical notepad and am able to hum my melodies/compositions to myself while riding the bus with a bunch of noise and people around me unaware that I am humming softly to myself.

18 hours ago, YhomTorke7 said:

How can they learn to read sheet music without playing an instrument?

Vocalists read sheet music also obviously.  But the more you translate sheet music into sound through various means the more you'll be able to better conceptualize the sounds you might write as a composer through your inner ear and musical imagination.  I started playing Clarinet in Jr. High, then learned Piano, Trumpet and French Horn in High School.  Then, during the quarantine picked up a bit of Acoustic Guitar.  And now, my friend gave me a Chromatic Harmonica which I can play while laying down in my bed.  But even now, I am still learning how to interpret the symbols in sheet music into sound through each new instrument I learn and it reinforces my ability to notate my musical ideas on paper.

I hope that answers some of your questions @YhomTorke7 and welcome to the forum!

  I don't think you can "compose" at it has traditionally been defined without reading music AND having competency with at least one instrument.

  I learned flute in grade/high school and learned to read music.  I then self-taught on piano, and had formal lessons on violin MUCH later in life.

 So, I recommend a year of formal piano lessons.  You will learn your instrument better, and learn to read music.  If it goes well, you could stick with it, but I think you should know enough to begin to write down musical ideas so others can play them--the point of writing music.

  Find a teacher who understands your goals and makes it fun and to the point.   A stickler for correct hand positions and endless scales might not be the right fit!...  A teacher who also teaches some theory/composition would be ideal--not all do!

20 hours ago, AngelCityOutlaw said:

Many composers today do not spend any significant amount of time looking at sheet music at all, actually. 

This forum is a bit of an exception, but the general rule is most composers these days are using DAWs with a MIDI keyboard and piano roll view instead of notation view.

In fact, for the sake of composing, DAWs offer a number of advantages over traditional notation. You can see the entire score and what is happening in it in regards to vertical harmonic relationships without having to scroll or move your eyes much, you can make very precise timing adjustments, and you can play in the music in real time and edit the MIDI data afterward; it also gives you much more control over the "Mock up" performance of what the music would sound like if recorded live.

Depends on the individual composer. Most I would think have an idea in their mind, though.

I don't know any composer who does not play an instrument or sing. It would be very difficult to be taken seriously if one didn't.

Most are at least competent on piano, which has long been the composer's instrument of choice.

At the professional or academic level, composers often conduct their own scores and when doing so, they have the full score in front of them instead of isolated parts. So from the composer's perspective, it is mainly about keeping the ensemble in time, controlling dynamics and expression, and a reference to make sure the composer knows the orchestra or ensemble is in the music, and where it is headed so that he can cue in sections

 

If I'm honest with you, I only want to learn to read music to analyze other pieces and thus learn more about composition. I feel much more comfortable using a DAW than using a music notation program like Finale or Musescore. I wish there was a way to analyze music without reading sheet music, using something like Guitar Pro or similar software for other instruments in general.

7 hours ago, Rich said:

  I don't think you can "compose" at it has traditionally been defined without reading music AND having competency with at least one instrument.

  I learned flute in grade/high school and learned to read music.  I then self-taught on piano, and had formal lessons on violin MUCH later in life.

 

 So, I recommend a year of formal piano lessons.  You will learn your instrument better, and learn to read music.  If it goes well, you could stick with it, but I think you should know enough to begin to write down musical ideas so others can play them--the point of writing music.

 

  Find a teacher who understands your goals and makes it fun and to the point.   A stickler for correct hand positions and endless scales might not be the right fit!...  A teacher who also teaches some theory/composition would be ideal--not all do!

 

In fact I think that's what I'll do. I'll take piano lessons. In my country there is an academy that teaches piano playing from a Jazz approach but I will still go to learn to read sheet music.